Dracula And Anna: Finding The truth

Ch 2: A Familiar Werewolf

Walking through the corridors of Dracula's castle, Anna walks into the room where Van Helsing had fought Dracula. The question was had Van Helsing been killed? Had Dracula been killed and was this just a dream? She was shocked to see that the Dwergi had fixed up the laboratory. Walking past many Dwergi, some hard at work, while others were lazy, Anna heard a noise that sounded like someone had kicked a Dwergi (hard). She heard a familiar voice shout, 'get back to work!' Walking around a corner, she saw the last person she'd expected to see.

'Igor?' the small hunched man looked up at her.

'Hello, Mistress, how are you, feeling better I hope?' It was strange to hear him talk to her like that, with such respect.

'Well the pain from my head is gone, but it seems so are some of my memories.' she admitted. It felt good to talk to someone other than Dracula or his brides, even though it was Igor. He looked like he might cry but obviously thought the better of it.

'That is so sad, I hope you remember, soon.' he didn't smile as he walked passed her, kicking another Dwergi that looked like it was sunbaking, except that there was no sun, (Anna thought of it as moon-baking,), and continued with his work.

Thinking he was acting even stranger than even she'd known him, Anna continued to walk about the laboratory. A few minutes later she could hear roars of pain from her left. Following the sound, (unaware that she was being watched from a distance) she walked over to find out what was going on. She was surprised to see Igor, again. She knew that he had gone the other way and they hadn't crossed paths.

It took her some time to understand just exactly what she was seeing. Igor was holding a cattle prod and was poking it at a very large and hairy werewolf. Anna couldn't help but notice that the wolf was familiar...

'Van Helsing?' she asked it. It was like the world had stopped. The werewolf turned slowly towards her, and Igor took a step back. The werewolf started to turn human; in a few moments, he was standing there in only tattered pants that had been ripped into shorts. He wore no shirt and his old bite was but a white scar.

'Anna, what are you doing here?' he asked bewildered as if he were wondering why she was even talking to him.

'Don't talk to the Mistress like that,' commanded Igor, as he prodded Van Helsing, sending a jolt through his body, causing him to scream in anguish.

'What do you mean what am I doing here.' What was wrong with Van Helsing? Had he forgotten their friendship, their love?

'You haven't spoken to me in years, why the change?' She told him about what had happened since she'd woken up, and even asked him if she was dreaming. Van Helsing looked solemn.

'No, this isn't a dream, Anna.' He said as Igor once again poked him with the cattle prod.

'Stop it!' shouted Anna, 'just leave him alone.' Igor gave her a peculiar look on his face as if he was just about to defy her, which he did.

'Sorry Mistress, but I've got orders.'

'Well, I order you then.' She said half-heartedly, she had never liked to order people around. Igor was giving her the same disobeying look.

'If you wish to challenge them, then take it up with the Master, because my orders come from him.' She was sure she'd felt her heart sink. To ask Dracula to stop his torturing of Van Helsing, she knew she'd be pushing her luck. She could do nothing to help Van Helsing at the current time, so she decided to try a different tactic.

'Then let me speak with him alone.' This seemed to surprise Igor, turning to stare at her he said, 'but the Master's orders...' but Anna immediately interrupted him, 'you won't be disobeying him, you'll just be taking my request, you can continue after I'm done.'

This seemed to please Igor, for she was right, he wouldn't be defying Dracula, for he had told Igor to follow the rule of his brides as well, as long as they didn't contradict his orders.

'Very well, you're lucky I have other things to do,' Igor said, before stating firmly, 'but don't take long.'

'I won't.' She said, barely above a whisper. Igor puts away his prodder before he leaves them alone.

'And why, Van Helsing, would I stop talking to you?' she had to find out all she could. She knew Dracula would keep his word, about not telling her, until she remembered.

Van Helsing wasn't looking at her, 'because of what happened.'

'Why what happened?'

He turned to her, 'Dracula,' he said simply.

'And what has he got to do with it?' Van Helsing was watching her intently.

'Because, you're his bride,' after a pause he added, 'his first bride.'